FBI and Local Partners Celebrate Success of ‘Operation Summer Heat’ and Announce Long-Term Federal Commitment to Combat Gang Violence
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is providing a significant boost to law enforcement efforts in Louisiana, committing additional resources to combat violent crime and gang activity across the state. The announcement follows the success of “Operation Summer Heat,” a multi-agency initiative that served as a model for future collaborations.
Jonathan Tapp, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, credited the DOJ’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) for providing extra resources, calling it a “major boost” to ongoing efforts. The VCRS specializes in prosecuting serious gang-related cases and brings a proven track record of disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations.
The commitment stems from a spring meeting between Governor Jeff Landry, the FBI, and other law enforcement partners to address the surge in violence plaguing neighborhoods in Baton Rouge and beyond. This led to “Operation Summer Heat,” an 11-agency collaborative effort that saw the FBI lead local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors in a targeted offensive against violent gangs…